Dricus Du
Plessis coach Morne Visser says they’re waiting on a contract
for a title defense against Khamzat
Chimaev.

While Chimaev getting the next middleweight title shot has long
been expected, the matchup hasn’t been finalized yet. There were
rumors of a Du Plessis injury causing a delay in the booking, which
were recently dismissed by Visser.

The matchup was originally being considered for UFC
317, which goes down on June 28 during the International Fight
Week. However, Visser confirmed that while Chimaev is undoubtedly
getting the next gold bid, it won’t be at UFC 317.

Visser hinted that another rumored matchup — involving Ilia
Topuria — on one side might have taken the spot at UFC 317.
Meanwhile, journalist Alvaro Colmenero recently reported that lightweight champ Islam
Makhachev, whom Topuria is targeting, has started training for
his next fight. But regardless of the timing, Visser confirms Du
Plessis’ matchup Chimaev fight is a “done deal.”

“We haven’t signed a contract. The fight was never confirmed,”
Visser told Submission Radio. “We were talking about it. And no
injuries man, that’s bulls–t. We’re fighting Khamzat, we’re
actually waiting for the contract. It’s gonna be soon. Definitely
not gonna be International Fight Week, they’ve got something else
planned for that. I’m sure everybody knows what they’ve got planned
– also not 100% confirmed. But we’re fighting Khamzat. We’re
waiting for the contract, it’s a done deal.”

Du Plessis is undefeated since 2019 and has nine
UFC wins to his name. “Stillknocks” won the title against
Sean
Strickland via split decision last year and has since defended
it against Israel
Adesanya via submission and then in a rematch against
Strickland via unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, Chimaev is undefeated in eight UFC outings with six
finishes. Chimaev most recently submitted former champ Robert
Whittaker with a teeth-breaking face crank at UFC 308 last
October.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

Internationaler Kampfkunst und Kampfsport Kleinanzeiger